#superbloom

1. SCAR

I like thís as the introduction to the album, I feel like it makes a statement right away. From what little I know about the record as a whole and some of the things he’s said about it and the topics he‘s touching on, it seems right to have this call for people to keep going and hang on at the start. And absolutely yes to family love and looking out for your (younger) siblings.

2. Have U Found What Ur Looking For?*

Like I said, I knew this from the concert (prep), but I haven‘t listened to it too often since. I believe he didn’t do the entire song live, but I do remember getting whole-body goosebumps at one point. Having learned a bit about the context now, i find it even more impressive and powerful.

3. Skinny Skinny*

Fuck. Me. This song doesn’t just hit close to home, it bullseye obliterated home. The first time I listened to this song was actually watching the music video and when I say I felt like I had an out of body experience, I mean it. I won‘t go into too much detail here, but there are some lines in there that might as well have been taken straight from my inner monologue and it does things I can‘t put into words to hear them a) out loud and b) poured into such a fucking masterpiece of a song.

4. Greyhound

God this is powerful, as well as catchy. I get the sense that this will just be 44 minutes of having my soul surgically cut open and taken apart bit by bit, while simultaneously sounding absolutely amazing. Maybe I‘m overanalysing things, but I do feel like I can hear running and lean muscles working and paws hitting the ground in parts of it. And once again, what a fucking voice this man has, god damn it.

5. Matter of Time (interlude)

More albums need interludes, I‘m just such a big fan of the concept. Feels like a moment to breathe and recover from being hit with everything that the first four songs throw at you.

6. Sunshine

I love how this doesn’t sound like it was written by a drummer but it also still does in a way? He‘s really showing us how versatile him and his music really are and I‘m living for it. It‘s really clever songwriting, not that that’s surprising to anyone.

7. The Sweetness

Oh, straight off the bat I‘m a fan of the mood. And there’s the drums as well, yesssss. Oh damn it, yeah, this is up there for sure. Watch me listening to this on repeat for at least a week straight. Fucking hell, what a voice. Once again, it‘s a feeling that just feels like it‘s been taken from way down in my own brain.

8. I'm to Blame

Ah, he‘s being unhinged, I‘m here for it. Yes to the drums once again, you can really tell that that‘s his thing tm. I‘m getting drug trip vibes, but in a positive way?

9. Drive

Man, I‘m really sorry this is repetitive as fuck, but god damn it the voice this man has, how?? I love the message, how realistic and unpolished but still hopeful he seems to be about this person/their relationship. Feels like a hug for my soul. Thank you.

10. Perfect Lie

I‘ll be honest, it did take me a second listen to properly form an opinion on this song, but I‘m liking it more and more each time. I‘m kinda glad he‘s not leaving us with one of those Sends You Into An Existential Crisis songs at the very end, because I don‘t think I could take that.

So, Ash, how do I mail you my therapist‘s bill? Because holy fucking shit. This soul striptease in musical shape has such a stranglehold on me, I‘m honestly floored. How am I supposed to just go about my day now? Absolute insanity this album is, in the best way possible.